Changes Coming to School Calendar After Weather-Related Closures

As a result of three weather-related emergency closures on Monday, Jan. 6, Tuesday, Jan. 7 and Wednesday, Jan. 8, MCPS has used the two contingency days built into the 2024-2025 school year calendar. An announcement about how the district will make up the third day will be shared with staff and families on Friday, Jan. 24.

Any further emergency closures will require the district to consider other make-up days that are identified in the school year calendar.

Thank You, MCPS Staff!

Hats off (well maybe not in this cold weather) to our terrific staff for their hard work this week! Dozens of employees from the Office of Facilities Management, the Division of Maintenance and Operations and the Department of Transportation worked tirelessly to remove ice and treat surfaces so MCPS buses could run and schools and offices could open safely for students, staff and visitors. 

If you have ice remaining on sidewalks or roadways that you believe are causing a danger for students, staff or buses, please contact Montgomery County's 311 service to report those areas.

Join Us for Community Meetings on Operating Budget

The Montgomery County Board of Education is hosting community meetings to explain the MCPS budget process. Join Board President Julie Yang and Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor for a presentation and Q&A about the 2026 operating budget and how it reflects the Board's priorities. 

Community Meetings Schedule:

• Tuesday, Jan. 28 – 6:30-8 p.m., Paint Branch High School (RSVP)
• Thursday, Jan. 30 – 6:30-8 p.m., Virtual Meeting (RSVP)

The Board of Education has been holding operating budget public hearings and work sessions. The last will be held on the following dates:

• Public Hearing: 6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 27.
• Work Session: 10 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 30.

The Board will tentatively adopt the operating budget at its business meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 4, with final adoption expected at its business meeting on Tuesday, June 10.

Read more and learn more about the proposed FY 2026 budget on this website. 

Changes to COSA Process Coming This Year

The MCPS 2025-2026 Change of School Assignment (COSA) transfer season opens on Monday, Feb. 3, and closes on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. The COSA process allows families to submit a request for their children to transfer out of their assigned home school.

Students are expected to attend the school within the established attendance area in which they reside (home school) or are assigned based on their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Learn more about the criteria. 

Important changes for the upcoming COSA transfer process:

• Requests submitted after April 1, 2025, will not be considered unless there was a recent move or an emergency event that could not have been foreseen prior to April 1.
• All COSA requests must be submitted online through ParentVue in Synergy. Parents who need support on how to use ParentVue to complete an online COSA request are encouraged to reach out to a staff member at their child’s assigned school.
• Detailed information related to the COSA process can be found in the 2025-2026 COSA information booklet, which will be available at the end of January.

For questions, call the Division of Pupil Personnel and Attendance Services at 240-740-5620.

Winter Parent Academy Schedule Now Available

Families and students can stay engaged throughout the school year with Parent Academy TO GO, a series of virtual webinars for families to watch at home. The January, February and March webinars are available on the Parent Academy website. Registration is available here. 

Walt Whitman Basketball Players Trade Hoops for Aprons and Community Service

The varsity basketball players at Walt Whitman High School are proving they’re more than athletes—they’re community leaders. From volunteering at a D.C. soup kitchen to organizing food drives, the team is making a real impact. To see how they’re developing leadership skills on and off the court, read the full story.